Cakkiaab-top



F. C. SGHAFFER.

Carriage-Top.

No. 25,445. Patented Sept. 13, 1859.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GFlETClIi.

FRANCIS G. SOHAFFER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CARRIAGE-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,445, dated September 13, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F. C. ScHlirrnR, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Carriage-Top; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, represents a longitudinal vertical section of a carriage arranged with curtains according to my invention and, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of ditto.

Similar letters of reference in both views indicate corresponding parts.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents the body of a carriage which is constructed in the usual manner and to which the top B, is secured as clearly represented in the drawing. The frame of the top is made of sheet metal, or it may be constructed of wood or any other suitable material and it is secured to the body of the carriage by means of longitudinal strips a, which are secured over the end flanges Z), of the frame of the top. The material constituting these flanges, whether wood or metal, is continued to or united with arched supporters c, the edges of which are turned over or so shaped as to form guides (Z, eX- tending from one side of the carriage body to the other. The supporters c, are united by a longitudinal brace or braces 6, attached to the upper parts of these supporters, and the ends of the frame are made of solid pieces 7", having openings cut out, which are covered by the hinged curtains C. These curtains are hinged to the frame on their upper edge, so as to close the openings g, by their own gravity, and they can be raised and supported in a horizontal position by means of hooks h, hooking into eyes i, as clearly represented in Fig. 1, in which position they serve to protect the persons or articles in the carriage against the direct influence of the rays of the sun, without excluding the air.

The frame of the carriage top as well as the end curtains C, are covered with some flexible material, such as leather, or cloth, or any other material suitable for covering carriage tops, and openings 70, are cut out of this covering leaving room for the side curtains D. These curtains are provided with hooks Z, which hook over the guides (Z, formed by the edges of the sup porters 0, so that the curtains can be drawn up in order to admit air through the openings Z5, in the sides of the covering or they can be pulled down so as to protect the persons or articles in the carriage against dust or against the influence of the weather. These curtains are made so high that they reach close under the arched portion of the supporters 0, so that when they are raised, they begin to curve, following the guides (Z, and by reason of their curved position assisted by the friction of the hooks on the guides they are retained when raised more or less, so that no extra fastening is required to hold them in their position.

The cheapness with which such a top can be constructed and the ease and simplicity of the operation of the curtains will recommend my invention to every person who builds or uses a carriage.

The usual method of securing carriage curtains is by means of holes and buttons. If the curtains are down it is necessary to unbutton and then roll them up, after which they are secured by straps and other buttons. The operation is inconvenient and also destructive to the curtains. If the latter are wet when rolled up they shrink in drying, so that it is almost impossible to button them again to their places. They also soon become wrinkled and torn from this cause. By means of my improvement the curtains are always kept stretched, so that they are not liable to be injured by use, while their smoothness and neat appearance is long maintained. The greater convenience of curtains made according to my improvement is also obvious for they can be readily placed in any desired position Without any rolling or buttoning operation. Being self-fastening they are always ready for movement.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent,

The arrangement and combination with the curtains D, of the hooks (Z) guides (03) 

